Meet Trustee Sean Elo

First and foremost, Sean is a son, brother, and committed friend who is fueled by love. His family’s diversity and experiences riding an up-and-down roller coaster in and out of the middle class will forever shape the way Sean sees the world and motivate him to make it better.
A first-generation college student, Sean attended Golden West Community College. He then transferred to and earned his bachelor’s degree from Chapman University, where he studied psychology, sociology, and history. While in school, Sean was an award-winning high school swimming and water polo coach. Inspired by President Obama’s historic 2008 Presidential campaign to make a more widespread impact, Sean went abroad and served as an English and Special Needs teacher in Peru and volunteered as environmental preservationist in Ecuador. He then taught English in a rural South Korean community.

Sean subsequently came to San Diego to attend California Western School of Law where he was selected to receive a Creative Problem Solving Scholarship. At Cal Western, he served in multiple leadership roles, including president of La Raza Student Association and Amnesty International and as a Student Representative.

Inspired by his diverse background and belief in the importance of historically disadvantaged communities working together, Sean also worked to strengthen the Student Diversity Coalition. Sean received a Pro Bono and Public Service Honors Society Award for his work with the City Heights Community Law Project, where he helped bring free legal clinics to schools.

In the fall of 2016, Sean visited dozens of community college classrooms and spoke with hundreds of students in San Diego County about registering to vote. Those students, their committed professors, and the hopes and dreams they shared inspired Sean to run for a seat on the San Diego Community College Board of Trustees. Two years later, with the help of a team of committed students, Sean shocked the political establishment and won the opportunity to serve.

In addition to now serving a Trustee, Sean is the executive director of the San Diego Youth Development Office. In this role, Sean works with young people to create the San Diego they want and need.

When not at work, Sean remains committed to improving the community. He is a 2017 RISE Urban Fellow, serves as a board member of multiple non-profit organizations, including Community HousingWorks and the San Diego Leadership Alliance. Sean also enjoys traveling and eating with his wonderful fiance, Angela, who he proposed to on Election Night.